Sheriff's offices execute warrant in homicide case

The scope of the ongoing criminal investigation into an April homicide incident near Wellington has unexpectedly expanded to include the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On April 30, the public safety dispatch center in Price broadcast an emergency message reporting the discovery of a body in an unincorporated area in close proximity to 600 East Main in Wellington.

Local law enforcement personnel responded to the location shortly after 7:49 a.m. and the initial investigation conducted by the Carbon County Sheriff's Office determined that the woman, identified as 27-year-old Crystal Carpenter Bradley, was the victim of a homicide.

The local law enforcement officials secured the murder scene before entering the Crystal and Dale Bradley Jr. residence to complete a routine check of the premises, pointed out Carbon Sheriff James Cordova on Tuesday.

After finding a suspected controlled substance and drug paraphernalia inside the home, the local authorities arrested and booked 36-year-old Dale Bradley Jr. into the Carbon County Jail on drug-related charges at 1:55 p.m. on April 30.

The Wellington man was released from custody after posting $5,000 in bail.

The sheriff's office continued the extensive homicide investigation and interviewed several unidentified individuals in connection with the murder case, added Cordova.

Based on information voluntarily provided by a number of local citizens, criminal investigators from the Carbon County and Salt Lake County law enforcement agencies obtained a warrant to conduct a second search of the Bradley residence.

"The second search proved to be valuable, with items found at the scene making Dale Bradley Jr. a definite person of interest in the homicide investigation," indicated the Carbon County sheriff on May 17.

Addressing the Wasatch Front law enforcement agency's participation in the local homicide investigation, Cordova said the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office questioned Dale Bradley Jr. during an investigation into the unsolved 1991 murder of a Kennecott Copper Corporation security guard.

The Kennecott employee, Bryan Ruff, was purportedly abducted from a company guard shack on Dec. 10, 1991 and Wasatch Front authorities later recovered the gunshot victim's body at a site near Fairfield.

"The Carbon County Sheriff's Office is working closely with Salt Lake County investigators to collect evidence and determine whether the two murder cases are linked," confirmed Cordova.

The Carpenter family has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the young Wellington woman's murder.

In conclusion, Cordova encouraged Carbon County residents who may have information regarding the April 30 homicide incident to contact lead investigator Sgt. Tom Stefanoff at the sheriff's office at 636-3727.